after 3 yrs of heavy opiate use, how long does WD syptoms last?

[FassFeat]

I have been taking Hydro 10/650 for 3 yrs, gradually built up to an obscene amount daily. I did some research online and opted not to use Suboxone, quit cold turkey. I fessed up to my wife, curled up in a ball to ride the storm out. I am now on day 5 and have been through some wierd things. Taste and smell was off for couple of days. I also, on day 2 went to family Dr. (that delivered our children 16 and 20 yrs ago) and told him, absolutely humiliating but he gave me Clonidine. My question is, how long before my arms and legs feel normal again.
This forum and others have helped me through some long days and nights lately. I have been watching from the outside. Thank everyone that has contributed, it has been inspiring.  I know the physical WD is the easy part, so I decided to see if I could join the group for strength. Thanks again to all.

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum!!  Congrats on day 5!!  You should be thru the worst of this by now.  Are you taking any supplements?  That really helps.  There is a supplement you can take for RLS...Hylands is what it is called.  Am happy to hear you came clean to your wife and doctor.  That is a huge load off your shoulders.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and try and get up and move around as much as you can.  We have to get those endorphins working again.  Keep posting as we are here to support you~~~~sara

[FassFeat]

Thanks for reply. It was a load off to get it out in open. Lucky to be alive. I have been drinking Gatorade and water. I am taking multi Vitamin, but will look into supplements for Hylands. Thanks for such a quick reply. I got out yesterday and mowed grass and went to a high school football game. I have to admit that I did sleep better and longer last night as a result. Thanks again.

[vicki595]

Hi!   Yes,get some Hylands Restfull Legs@Walgreens for the RLS. Also,I've read that if you take cold tablets containing DMX it relieves RLS quite a bit! Many doctors are using it for their patients. The clonidine really works,as well!

Keep posting. There's a lot of support here!
Vicki

[FassFeat]

Thanks to both answers. I will get some and try it. Any idea how long it will be before my brain receptors will clear enough to heal RLS naturally? or is that dependent on amount of excercise and activity? I own the fact that I did this to my self, and am shocked that it wasn't worse (WD symptoms) as I was taking as many as 30 per day. I believe I will be leaning on you both. But I will keep you updated as well and hopefully that will help others. I know it helped me to read about others. I had a hard time believing how widespread this is. Thank you.

[dominosarah]

Exercise helps this go away alot faster but it can hang on for a bit.  I would think it would be better in a week or so but the more you get up and move the less you will notice it.  Painpill addiction is the biggest addiction problem in the world right now.....so so sad.  You just lean away......we know and understand what you are going thru.       sara

[vicki595]

It takes a little while for our brains to get back to baseline but it WILL happen! I promise.

Yes,exercise is the #1 cure. Also,vitamins help. But,it's mostly time...

As Sara said,our brains are very forgiving. Sara has years of clean time so she knows the drill!

It's great that you've told your wife and doctor about this...good for you!

V.

[FassFeat]

God Bless you. I can see how much you participate. It certainly made me feel better to have someone answering my question. Have a great weekend. I am in SE TX and we finally got a cool front, 75 degrees, but that is cool compared to 95 degrees. Thanks again.

[dominosarah]

Cool here in Minnesota and i am loving it!!  Stay true to yourself and do whatever it takes to protect your clean time.  We are always here so keep us posted on how you are doing~~sara

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  You have gotten great advice from some smart ladies.  Exercise helps a lot of the symptoms that linger for a while longer.  Fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, RLS are among the ones that drag on a little longer for some people.  (ME included!!!)  And, believe it or not, exercise can make all of those things better if you can make yourself do it.

Also, at Wal Mart they have a supplement called Mag/Cal/Zinc.  It is not expensive, and it really helps the RLS.  I took 1000mg, twice a day.  It helps a lot!  Hyland's Restful Legs is homeopathic and won't hurt you at all.  They make a leg cramp formula too, and I took that.  I had leg cramps so bad I thought it would never go away.  The hylands is GREAT for that!!!

Good luck!  Don't forget to get some support and aftercare so you never have to do this again!!!! : )  I'm cheering for you!

[pillfree21]

Just wanted to chime in and pat you on the back for starting the journey.  I have a lot of respect for your decision to CT and not go the Sub route...it will definitely make it easier in the end.  Your are on the right path, I would just suggest you continue to exercise and experience life's opportunities like the HS football game.....we are football crazy here in GA as well and I find a lot of comfort in being out in the night air with screaming fans.

[FassFeat]

and to pillfree21 as well, Thank you both for chiming in. I would say you have no idea how good it feels to get words of encouragement, but I know that everyone on this forum does. Thanks just the same. I did go walk today, it sucked at first, but I was glad after it was over. Did feel better. Thanks for taking time to offer support, I really appreciate it.  I have seen that dominosarah and vicki595 are very informed and active, even during a Holiday weekend. I am going to help as well, once I get my arms around this beast. I am all in, no looking back. Thanks again. 30 mins to day 6. lol

[Ourdukes4ever]

Well, you sure got a lot of helpful posts. I have been sitting here reading some of the replies you received as well as some older posts so I thought I would register, since I'M ON DAY 16 MYSELF! and I also need all the help I can get after 4 years of dependence on 10/325's. Just to let you know and give you some hope, I am sitting here this evening feeling quite fine, very relaxed and at peace. I am taking calcium and magnesium, which was suggested to me by someone in the recovery business.  I think it is helping. Still have a bit of fatigue during portions of the last few days, but my evenings are all good. I take it the day fatigue is temporary and I will get more energy as the days pass. That's what I am hoping for.  And I'm older too so ... Good luck to you and to us all.

[dominosarah]

Welcome to the forum!!  Congrats on 16 days!!  I am glad you found us~~~~~~sara

[janet19]

I opted suboxone, I feel great. I couldn't do the withdrawls and the wait to get energy back. I am feeling  good and I think I chose the right way for me.  I wish lots of luck and stick in there you can do it.

[whoa1]

i want to congratulate u for being so brave. i feel like i am weak and would end up in the er if i did it straight ct.

[FassFeat]

Thank you some much for taking time to share, sounds like our situations are
similar. Today is day six and I got up early and walked briskly for 30 mins. About to go fire up the tractor and mow for a couple of hours as the weather is finally cooling down in TX. It is very encouraging to hear that in another week my legs and arms might begin to feel normal again (or better at least) Do you remember how long ? or did you even have that problem?  This forum has been the biggest help to me during this time. You are correct, I have gotten some really great advice here. Thanks again

Congrats on your clean time.. I am so Happy and Proud for you.

[dominosarah]

Congrats on 6 days!!  Way to go on getting out and walking!!  The more you do this the quicker those arms and legs will feel better.  I would think within the next few days they should be feeling better.  Have fun mowing!!   Keep us posted on how you are doing.      sara

[FassFeat]

Thank you for your post. I don't think it matters how you do it, as long as you do it (safely) I am relaitvely healthy (not sure how that happened after the way I abused my self) so I knew I could handle CT. I have seen alot of people use Suboxan successfully. Congrats on quitting, that is main thing, recognizing the problem. Thank you again, best of luck, and reach out if I can help ever. Thanks

[FassFeat]

Thanks. I am still going to get Hylands today. We live out away from town so I didn't make it yesterday. Thanks for all you do. Everyone appreciates it. Looking forward to day 7, but going to try and be productive on day 6. God Bless All
My son marches in band in college, he got to go to TX A&M last night and march in front of the biggest crowd in history 80k people. They are smaller school and got beat but it was an experience for him. He was pysched, soph. Thanks again.

[dominosarah]

What is going on?

[laurel453]

sarah, whoa is having a laugh, maybe ?

[ladylisa109]

I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in there for you about the RLS stuff.  I am 27 days off of Tramadol, a little different than what you were taking but WDs are about the same.  Around day 10 the RLS start really easing up for me.  It would still pop up a couple times a day with night time being the worse but like others have said I found some relief with Hylands also.  Now at 27 days I may have had some restlessness in my legs a couple of times in the past week.  So there is an end in sight ;o)  Oh and btw I live in NE Tx myself and this cooler weather has been heaven!!  Especially after the brutally hot August we just had.  Hang in there because you are heading for a big upswing as far as the WDs and are going to be feeling so much better.  Take care and keep posting.  Blessings, Lisa

[hantzzz]

hey guys this is my 9th day clean of herion 4th day of the suboxone. just got done fishing and then hiked up hill home a mile and feel great although the restless legs i still feel and i cant sleep at all ***** but i know when its all said and done liffe will be so much better please write back ive been reading everyones comments and it seems to help me let me kno im not alone